TRANSLATION.
“Having these I come;
Having these four souls may I make my camp fires.”
He was to take four scalps in battle.
2. Anpetu kin wamiconga, Makatakiya u we. | “The day that is determined for me, May it come earthward.” |
3. Minagi topa ye do, Hoksidan wakan cicu e do. | |
4. Wiwanyake toki da he; Nitakoda wanyaka ye. | “Wiwanyaki (a bird) where have you gone; Behold your friend.” |
5. Anpetu kin wanniyag hi nanwe. | “May the day come to see thee.” |
6. Wacinhe wakanyan Taninyan wahinawape. | With a crown of glory, I come forth. |
| This is the language of the sun as it rises in glory. | |
7. Mahipiya sua, kode, Mini yain hwo. | |
This is sung by the singers when the man is almost dying of thirst. The brave man pays no attention to it.
The following is from the pen of Major General Curtis, dated Fort Sully, June 2, 1866:
“The whole of the three thousand Sioux camped about us gave me early information of their design to have the annual sun dance at this time and place, the season of the year—the trees in full leaf—having now arrived, and they wished me to inform Colonel Recor, the commander of the soldiers, that however boisterous their demonstrations might be, they would all be peaceable and of a pious character.
On yesterday, June 1, the dancing was delayed at intervals to allow tortures to be inflicted. Two or three men stood over the devotee with needle and knife, very quietly performing penance, according to the customs of all these sacerdotal rites, as follows; First, they cut the arms in several places by striking an awl in the skin, raising it and cutting out about half an inch; this is done on both arms, and sometimes on the breast and back. Then wooden setons (sticks about the thickness of a common lead pencil) are inserted through a hole in the skin and flesh. Then cords or ropes are attached to these sticks by one end, and to the pole at the other end, the victim pulling on the ropes till the seton sticks tear out the flesh and skin. I saw one with two setons thus attached to his breast, pulling till it seemed to draw the skin out three inches, and finally requiring nearly his whole might to tear out the seton.